This is an extremely rare and distinctive form of O. insectifera that exists in just a few
sites in this country, predominently in the south of England around the north Hampshire
and Berkshire border - it has also been found in north Wales.
It was first formally described in 2006 by Les Lewis who had spent a great deal of
time studying this form of Fly orchid in order to determine its true species status.
Prior to his work, many had raised the question as to the possible existence of
O. aymoninii in the UK.
Its range is poorly understood but given that it is most usually found within colonies of the
more normally marked form of O. insectifera, it seems reasonable to assume that it can
can potentially appear throughout the range ot the type species.
One of the better known colonies thrive on the private estate of a well known show business
personality and in more recent times (2008) two spikes were found growing on an established
and thoroughly studied reserve in Hampshire. The potential exists to discover more sites for
this most attractive form of O. insectifera, despite its current rarity.
It can be seen from the photo's that the highly characteristic yellow margin fades to
brown with age and can then be easily mistaken for the normally marked species. All
photo's from Hampshire, UK.
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